Montclair State Fulbright Alumni Share their Experiences Abroad

How has your participation in the Fulbright program helped you develop personally or professionally?

• It’s hard to picture what my life would look like had I not been a part of the Fulbright Program. Some of the most cherished relationships I have are with people I met during my time living and working in Logroño, Spain. My time there taught me how to live in the moment. That no pasa nada lifestyle is something I brought back with me. I always knew that I’d pursue a career in Bilingual/ESL education, so my experience of living in another country helps me to empathize with my students. Many of the children I teach are native Spanish speakers, so the language skills I honed during my time in Spain have been invaluable. Because of my Fulbright experience, I am better able to connect with my students and their families.

What’s an example of one of your best experiences in the Fulbright program?

• My favorite memory is the day I arrived in my host city – Logroño. It was the first day of the city’s week-long feast of San Mateo, which celebrates the grape harvest. I had met my host family at their home where they gifted me my own pañuelo, a neck scarf that’s worn during festivals. They showed me around the city, and the streets were overflowing with people of all ages enjoying the celebratory atmosphere. It was my introduction to one of Spain’s most famous streets, Calle Laurel, which is known for its pinchos. I immediately felt at home, and the city’s song is true when it says that “nadie en Logroño se siente extranjero.”

How did you engage with your community during the Fulbright program?

• I had the opportunity to volunteer with Education USA’s Competitive College Club. I volunteered as a mentor to a high school senior who lived in Madrid. Together we worked on her applications to universities in the U.S. During our Mid-Year Seminar in Valencia, I received a call from her with the news that she had been accepted to Northwestern on a full scholarship! She’s currently finishing up her sophomore year there.

What do you think helped you earn a spot in the Fulbright program?

• I had specifically applied to be an English Teaching Assistant, so I think my background in education and teaching experience was beneficial. I shared my family’s immigration experiences and how our family history has impacted me and my upbringing. Choosing Spain as a host country was really intentional because of the impact my Spanish teachers (all of whom were Spaniards) had on me throughout my schooling; they made me grow to love a language and a culture that I hadn’t known before. What they imparted on me is a perfect example of what the Fulbright Program works to achieve, and I saw my grant as a way of doing the same.

Do you have any advice for students who are thinking of applying to the Fulbright program or who are semi-finalists?

• It’s a long process, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Be patient and try not to be discouraged by how competitive the process is. Start your application early and really take your time with it. Familiarize yourself with the details because each host country has different criteria. Fulbright is all about mutual understanding, so dive deep into how the community you visit will benefit from having you there, and think about how you will use your experiences to make an impact as a global citizen when you return home. Use your essays to tell your story: share anecdotes that connect you to the host country’s language and culture, or demonstrate how you’ve been impacted by the global community. The interview is a great opportunity to share your passion for the work you’ll do during your grant and express your connection to the host country. It’s also the time to show off your language skills!
  Semi-finalists, celebrate as if you’ve been awarded the grant because reaching this step is a huge accomplishment.

How has your participation in the Fulbright program helped you develop personally or professionally?

• My participation in the Fulbright program has really elevated my confidence. Moving to a foreign country and using a foreign language can really take one out of their comfort zone, and I believe that challenge serves as a catalyst for growth. I had always struggled with jitters whenever I had to speak publicly. Once I had done it over and over again in a foreign language, I noticed how much of a breeze it felt in my native language. I also have just a deepened appreciation for intercultural communication. There is so much to be learned from individuals that come from different cultures and backgrounds.

What’s an example of one of your best experiences in the Fulbright program?

• While the collective experience of Fulbright was life-changing, I would have to say that my favorite moment was when I was helping to teach my fifth graders how to say the colors in English. They learned how to ask me my favorite color, and then they took turns answering with their own. I had a really unique answer because I told my students how I couldn’t decide between purple or blue. One of my students said that she couldn’t decide between purple or blue. Was she being serious, or was she trying to impress me? I don’t know. But her face absolutely lit up when she saw me smile. It’s such a small moment, really, but it shows you just how much students look up to you and view you as a role model. Whenever I entered that classroom, my students looked at me like I was a superhero. I will never forget the feeling of joy that that made me feel. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. Due to COVID lockdowns taking place, classes ended abruptly, and I unfortunately never had the chance to see those students in person again before I left the country. I miss them so much and often wonder how they are doing.

How did you engage with your community during the Fulbright program?

• I had planned a lot of spring-based activities, such as American sports clubs, which unfortunately could not take place due to COVID lockdowns. But, I made sure to interact a lot with the host family that I was working with. I cooked them a lot of American classics (think pancakes, meatloaf, etc.). There were so many language and cultural questions that we shared with one another, such as how to say certain words, or which holidays are celebrated, and why or how they are celebrated. It was really fun to make homemade eggnog with my host family, for instance, and to see their reaction when they tasted it! That’s just one of the many examples. I did have more volunteer-type opportunities planned, but unfortunately, they didn’t see the light of day due to lockdown.

What do you think helped you earn a spot in the Fulbright program?

• I was really involved in the German program during my time at Montclair State University, and I think that that was the main reason why I was considered. Our cohort helped to create German as a major, and I also established the German Club on campus, as well as the German honor society. I was always looking for opportunities to tie our students closer together, not even for any sort of resume building, but because we were truly an academic family. That aspect of community within a program can only be attributed to Thomas Herold and Pascale Lafountain, who made it easy to get involved and really catered to this sense of camaraderie within the program. I accredit them to many of my successes in life. But for any student who is wondering how to excel with a Fulbright program, two questions I have for you are, “What can you do to help grow your language program?” and “How can you get involved?”

Do you have any advice for students who are thinking of applying to the Fulbright program or who are semi-finalists?

• Believe in yourself. Remind yourself of the reasons why you adore the language program that you have dedicated so much of your time to. Can you remember your first day of your language class? What were some of your fears? How have you overcome those fears? What does this language mean to you? Tell your story. Be true. Be honest. Be YOU. Also, I know that a lot of us like to be humble and hate to gloat, but make sure to honor your accomplishments in full.

How has your participation in the Fulbright program helped you develop personally or professionally?

• The Fulbright program provided me the opportunity to further develop leadership skills in my field of interest and expand my knowledge of South African culture, politics, and education. The experience helped me solidify my interest in pursuing a doctoral degree in the fall. I will be focusing my Ph.D. on critical disability studies in an international context, mainly within the global south. While stationed in South Africa, I worked as the disability unit access coordinator at Nelson Mandela University and saw, on another level, how disability is a societally constructed concept and how differently disability is viewed and addressed around the world.

What’s an example of one of your best experiences in the Fulbright program?

• I had so many fantastic experiences during my Fulbright; it is difficult to choose just one. One of the best memories for me was actually the arrival orientation at the embassy in Pretoria. The ten selected Fulbright grantees were able to learn from embassy personnel and South African scholars, teachers, and artists about life in SA. We went to the apartheid museum and participated in various, important cultural activities in the area. I met great friends and brilliant people. Other memories that stand out to me involve interviews with students with disabilities within the accessibility unit. I learned of their experiences with access in their home communities and within the university. They were all so kind and personable. I learned so much from them about life in SA and issues surrounding disability.

How did you engage with your community during the Fulbright program?

• As the disability unit access coordinator, I was able to create various advocacy and awareness campaigns for the promotion of disability rights. For example, I piloted and facilitated a student-led radio program, where both disabled and typically developing students engaged in a discussion surrounding access, stereotypes, labeling, etc. I also began filming a documentary exploring how the local Xhosa community accommodates and struggles to accommodate its adult members with autism. These are just a few examples of how I was fortunate enough to engage with the community.

What do you think helped you earn a spot in the Fulbright program?

• I have been a fairly strong writer throughout my academic career. It is imperative to showcase your writing skills in your application. I was able to clearly and concisely convey my intended projects I would implement if selected. I also ensured to take on various leadership roles throughout my life. For example, I was a certified emergency medical technician for six years and played on my ability to train probationary EMTs. I explained how all of my past leadership positions helped prepare me to lead as a Fulbrighter. Additionally, I have had opportunities to travel the world, including to SA, and therefore, I acquired prior knowledge of and greater interest in my host country. My experiences in-country led me to research the socio-economic and political climate, as well as education systems in SA.

Do you have any advice for students who are thinking of applying to the Fulbright program or who are semi-finalists?

• I definitely believe being able to write a strong statement of grant purpose and a strong personal statement helped me receive the grant. I wrote both of them over the course of approximately three months and wrote over 20 drafts. I had at least eight or so people read them and provide me feedback. Therefore, I suggest you begin your papers for submission months before they are due and have people with strong writing skills give you suggestions. Definitely also have prior knowledge of your chosen country. You do not need to have traveled to your country before, but you do need to showcase you have a basic understanding of your county’s political and economic relationship to the U.S. and demonstrate that knowledge in your writing. State the importance of the Fulbright program in your host country and how your work there will further the Fulbright mission. Avoid only speaking about how the Fulbright program will further your life, but rather, touch on how your work will help develop positive international relations. Also, you may want to briefly explain how you have overcome obstacles in your life and how these obstacles have helped mold you into a strong candidate. Avoid, however, making the main point of your essays your life struggles and how you have overcome them. You have a wide range of topics to address in only a few pages. Finally, show your passion for your host country and for the Fulbright mission. This is not merely an opportunity to travel, but it is also a chance to expand your professional, academic, and personal skills.